Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Royal tour: Duchess of Cambridge rules the waves after beating Duke in Auckland yacht race Duchess of Cambridge gives husband cheeky victory salute after sailing past him when the royal couple tried their hand at racing America's Cup sailing boats in New Zealand

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Team New Zealand has announced they will not be competing in the 2014/15 edition of the Volvo Ocean Race.

In recent weeks, the team had explored a joint challenge with Spanish interests, but chief executive Grant Dalton said the team was not convinced it could mount a successful challenge in the time available and the team's energies would be better directed towards the next America's Cup. The Volvo Ocean race starts at Alicante, Spain, on October 4 this year...........

Not really. I just says that there aren't a lot of sponsors interested in this race, at this price.

You won't find me arguing that pricing is unimportant. But when a well-known and successful team can't find a sponsor for a well-established event at a lower price point than previously, that says something about the sponsor marketplace. You don't need a GRIB file to see the way the wind blows.

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Could it be that the current VOR model, with one-design and "human interest coverage", sucks? Zero interest about what designs are going to work better in different conditions, etc. All talk about "stories", but completely inept at covering/promoting the coverage of the actual action? Treats those who have proven to be true fans of the event as brainless Reality TV mush heads that don't care about competition, but more about how people "feel".

Give me back the intrigue of development/innovation along with good coverage of the action and I will likely be interested, again. I have been totally unable to get interested in this version of VOR. As I have long said about the AC, the cost to develop and run the logistics has to be considered relative to the interest in the event. Cost savings should not be the overriding consideration.

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Reality TV mush heads that don't care about competition, but more about how people "feel".

TV coverage of Ellen MacArthur emoting got millions of viewers for Kingfisher and is the only extensive sailing TV coverage of (fairly) recent years that attained mainstream British viewers by the million. You may sniff at it and it didn't float my boat either but as a commercial proposition, it got sponsor value.

MacArthur was, of course, also a hugely talented and competitive sailor but she was also skilled at the "TV personality" game.

Give me back the intrigue of development/innovation along with good coverage of the action

Both of those were available last time. Were you watching? I was, although the number of breakages took the shine off for me. Tough ODs don't seem such an awful idea to me.

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Give me back the intrigue of development/innovation along with good coverage of the action and I will likely be interested, again.

Yeah but nobody cares if enthusiastic sailors are interested because we do not make up a statistically significant portion of the population. In other words, your opinion of what you want to see is worth less than whatever the mushiest mush head wants to see.

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Give me back the intrigue of development/innovation along with good coverage of the action and I will likely be interested, again.

Yeah but nobody cares if enthusiastic sailors are interested because we do not make up a statistically significant portion of the population. In other words, your opinion of what you want to see is worth less than whatever the mushiest mush head wants to see.

Well, if it were the case that the new model actually attracted new audience, you would have a point. But has it? Doesn't seem to be the case. Meanwhile, people like I, who have followed the race for years, can hardly find the VOR page anymore because of apathy.

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Reality TV mush heads that don't care about competition, but more about how people "feel".

TV coverage of Ellen MacArthur emoting got millions of viewers for Kingfisher and is the only extensive sailing TV coverage of (fairly) recent years that attained mainstream British viewers by the million. You may sniff at it and it didn't float my boat either but as a commercial proposition, it got sponsor value.

MacArthur was, of course, also a hugely talented and competitive sailor but she was also skilled at the "TV personality" game.

>>Give me back the intrigue of development/innovation along with good coverage of the action

Both of those were available last time. Were you watching? I was, although the number of breakages took the shine off for me. Tough ODs don't seem such an awful idea to me.

Yeah, I followed it. Certainly was not up to the interest levels of previous versions.

I do not think "tough ODs" is the answer. I couldn't care less about the current Clipper race, or whatever it is called.

I think you do not have to go all the way to OD to have a class tough enough to avoid the breakage issues of the last time around. You could have minimum weight limits, maybe have it broken down by component, along with material requirements . . . . seems something of that nature could lead to having much more robust boats while still allowing for big differences in design theme.

The MOD class was supposed to be a "tough OD", too, and I don't see that being a wild success so far. Meanwhile, despite the economic issues, we are seeing new record chasers being developed.

Personally, I think a good deal of the intrigue and interest related to following sailing as a spectator is related to technology and design. OD is great as a participant, but I don't see where it does any favors to public interest.

Team New Zealand boss Grant Dalton leaves for the United States on another fundraising drive as the America's Cup syndicate enters "survival mode".

The government's $5 million bridging funding is fast running out and Dalton needs to find more money.

......

He would like to see the protocol released before then and didn't feel there was anything sinister in the protracted process being carried out by cup holders Oracle and Australian challenger of Record Hamilton Island Yacht Club.

Dalton believed it was simply a matter of the two opponents working through the finer details.

Importantly, Team New Zealand has already received "the rule" for the boat design to be used.

He confirmed it would be a 62-footer and the speed wouldn't be compromised despite the length reduction of 10-feet from the foiling catamarans that were used last year when Team New Zealand lost the final to Oracle 9-8.

But there was a restriction to syndicates only building one boat.

That meant design development would need to be carried out in a two-boat programme involving smaller 45-foot catamarans where the gains could then be transferred to the bigger racing cats.

Team New Zealand boss Grant Dalton leaves for the United States on another fundraising drive as the America's Cup syndicate enters "survival mode".

The government's $5 million bridging funding is fast running out and Dalton needs to find more money.

......

He would like to see the protocol released before then and didn't feel there was anything sinister in the protracted process being carried out by cup holders Oracle and Australian challenger of Record Hamilton Island Yacht Club.

Dalton believed it was simply a matter of the two opponents working through the finer details.

Importantly, Team New Zealand has already received "the rule" for the boat design to be used.

He confirmed it would be a 62-footer and the speed wouldn't be compromised despite the length reduction of 10-feet from the foiling catamarans that were used last year when Team New Zealand lost the final to Oracle 9-8.

But there was a restriction to syndicates only building one boat.

That meant design development would need to be carried out in a two-boat programme involving smaller 45-foot catamarans where the gains could then be transferred to the bigger racing cats.

No money...wow!

Hardly surprising. Who wants to support losers with a 13 year pedigree of choking.

Mind you some people just love the profile losers purvey. That sense of helping out and staying attached to mummy,s titties for some sense of security.

eTNZ fans are a bit like those woman that marry murderours. They feel they can change them for the better.... but it never works out.

Team New Zealand boss Grant Dalton leaves for the United States on another fundraising drive as the America's Cup syndicate enters "survival mode".

The government's $5 million bridging funding is fast running out and Dalton needs to find more money.

......

He would like to see the protocol released before then and didn't feel there was anything sinister in the protracted process being carried out by cup holders Oracle and Australian challenger of Record Hamilton Island Yacht Club.

Dalton believed it was simply a matter of the two opponents working through the finer details.

Importantly, Team New Zealand has already received "the rule" for the boat design to be used.

He confirmed it would be a 62-footer and the speed wouldn't be compromised despite the length reduction of 10-feet from the foiling catamarans that were used last year when Team New Zealand lost the final to Oracle 9-8.

But there was a restriction to syndicates only building one boat.

That meant design development would need to be carried out in a two-boat programme involving smaller 45-foot catamarans where the gains could then be transferred to the bigger racing cats.

No money...wow!

Hardly surprising. Who wants to support losers with a 13 year pedigree of choking.

Mind you some people just love the profile losers purvey. That sense of helping out and staying attached to mummy,s titties for some sense of security.

eTNZ fans are a bit like those woman that marry murderours. They feel they can change them for the better.... but it never works out.

Team New Zealand boss Grant Dalton talks to Tony Veitch about the current situation with Team New Zealand, the new protocols for the 35th America's Cup, how a run at another campaign is looking, and what happens next. He also takes your calls.

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

One of the points that Dalton made is that the risk to Olympic hopefuls is because of the protocol stepping outside the International Federation .. this could lead to a war with AC that could result in all participants of the AC being banned from other sailing events such as the Olympics .

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Dalts,....there's no need to make any more excuses about how hard it is to win the AC. We all know you've been trying your best for the past 11years. Jimmy wants to see you back onboard. Please don't leave.

Nice! and personal

Notice: this is a world class sporting event not an event for children to make cheap personal attacks on other competitors. Grow up Coutts!

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Dalts,....there's no need to make any more excuses about how hard it is to win the AC. We all know you've been trying your best for the past 11years. Jimmy wants to see you back onboard. Please don't leave.

Nice! and personal

Notice: this is a world class sporting event not an event for children to make cheap personal attacks on other competitors. Grow up Coutts!

Not my read on the comment at this point - thought it was more reality with a touch of sarcasm based on JS's comment rather than a personal attack.

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Dalts,....there's no need to make any more excuses about how hard it is to win the AC. We all know you've been trying your best for the past 11years. Jimmy wants to see you back onboard. Please don't leave.

Nice! and personal

Notice: this is a world class sporting event not an event for children to make cheap personal attacks on other competitors. Grow up Coutts!

Not my read on the comment at this point - thought it was more reality with a touch of sarcasm based on JS's comment rather than a personal attack.

I'm pretty sure there is zero reality in that statement, and a boat load of venom. Read the other posts on his facebook:

"See this link from Jimmy Spithill; He’s right. Anyone trying to claim smaller boats with less crew, less designers, less sails, less components and less development time on the water will cost the same or more than the last AC campaign is obviously wishing to pay themselves more”

RC not showing much class to go with his bank account.

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Dalts,....there's no need to make any more excuses about how hard it is to win the AC. We all know you've been trying your best for the past 11years. Jimmy wants to see you back onboard. Please don't leave.

Nice! and personal

Notice: this is a world class sporting event not an event for children to make cheap personal attacks on other competitors. Grow up Coutts!

Not my read on the comment at this point - thought it was more reality with a touch of sarcasm based on JS's comment rather than a personal attack.

I'm pretty sure there is zero reality in that statement, and a boat load of venom. Read the other posts on his facebook:

"See this link from Jimmy Spithill; He’s right. Anyone trying to claim smaller boats with less crew, less designers, less sails, less components and less development time on the water will cost the same or more than the last AC campaign is obviously wishing to pay themselves more”

RC not showing much class to go with his bank account.

The AC is starting to lose me as a fan (FWIW). If I want to see/hear/read s#it like that I'd watch World Wrestling. Sailing used to be "something different", and RC used to be "someone different" as well. Man, I had respect for that chap, emphasis on had.

Anyway, back to unpacking moving boxes...

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Dalts,....there's no need to make any more excuses about how hard it is to win the AC. We all know you've been trying your best for the past 11years. Jimmy wants to see you back onboard. Please don't leave.

Nice! and personal

Notice: this is a world class sporting event not an event for children to make cheap personal attacks on other competitors. Grow up Coutts!

Not my read on the comment at this point - thought it was more reality with a touch of sarcasm based on JS's comment rather than a personal attack.

I'm pretty sure there is zero reality in that statement, and a boat load of venom. Read the other posts on his facebook:

"See this link from Jimmy Spithill; Hes right. Anyone trying to claim smaller boats with less crew, less designers, less sails, less components and less development time on the water will cost the same or more than the last AC campaign is obviously wishing to pay themselves more

RC not showing much class to go with his bank account.

The AC is starting to lose me as a fan (FWIW). If I want to see/hear/read s#it like that I'd watch World Wrestling. Sailing used to be "something different", and RC used to be "someone different" as well. Man, I had respect for that chap, emphasis on had.

Anyway, back to unpacking moving boxes...

typically someone of RC's stature would have a PR professional managing his "posts". This seems quite likely - although there is always a chance he might go rogue - but to be "on message" is a goal of a social media campaign.

Share on other sites

Coutts... "Geoff, it is pretty much a box rule. The wings will be almost identical and the major parameters - weight, beam (power) and size are fixed. However, I'm not sure this favours New Zealand. I suspect sailors like Jimmy Spithill and Ben Ainslie would do just fine in a one design format !!!"

Team New Zealand boss Grant Dalton leaves for the United States on another fundraising drive as the America's Cup syndicate enters "survival mode".

The government's $5 million bridging funding is fast running out and Dalton needs to find more money.

......

He would like to see the protocol released before then and didn't feel there was anything sinister in the protracted process being carried out by cup holders Oracle and Australian challenger of Record Hamilton Island Yacht Club.

Dalton believed it was simply a matter of the two opponents working through the finer details.

Importantly, Team New Zealand has already received "the rule" for the boat design to be used.

He confirmed it would be a 62-footer and the speed wouldn't be compromised despite the length reduction of 10-feet from the foiling catamarans that were used last year when Team New Zealand lost the final to Oracle 9-8.

But there was a restriction to syndicates only building one boat.

That meant design development would need to be carried out in a two-boat programme involving smaller 45-foot catamarans where the gains could then be transferred to the bigger racing cats.

This will take some wind out of the conspirators sails

He would like to see the protocol released before then and didn't feel there was anything sinister in the protracted process being carried out by cup holders Oracle and Australian challenger of Record Hamilton Island Yacht Club.

Dalton believed it was simply a matter of the two opponents working through the finer details.

Importantly, Team New Zealand has already received "the rule" for the boat design to be used.

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Coutts... "Geoff, it is pretty much a box rule. The wings will be almost identical and the major parameters - weight, beam (power) and size are fixed. However, I'm not sure this favours New Zealand. I suspect sailors like Jimmy Spithill and Ben Ainslie would do just fine in a one design format !!!"

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

really? This is how it reads to me - but I have a bad habit of sarcasm:

Dalts,....there's no need to make any more excuses about how hard it is to win the AC (loser!). We all know you've been trying your best (which ain't good enough!) for the past 11years (fuckin forever!). Jimmy wants to see you back onboard (uhuh). Please don't leave (uhuh).

Seems to me that Coutts should be just a wee bit scared of Dalts. His team practically invented the flying 72 and came a hairs breadth from taking him out.

Or am I reading this missive wrong? It would seem that RC pretty much can't stand the guy.

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

really? This is how it reads to me - but I have a bad habit of sarcasm:

Dalts,....there's no need to make any more excuses about how hard it is to win the AC (loser!). We all know you've been trying your best (which ain't good enough!) for the past 11years (fuckin forever!). Jimmy wants to see you back onboard (uhuh). Please don't leave (uhuh).

Seems to me that Coutts should be just a wee bit scared of Dalts. His team practically invented the flying 72 and came a hairs breadth from taking him out.

Or am I reading this missive wrong? It would seem that RC pretty much can't stand the guy.

I agree and would add, he's trying to keep it interesting to the masses with some gamesmanship.

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Dalts,....there's no need to make any more excuses about how hard it is to win the AC. We all know you've been trying your best for the past 11years. Jimmy wants to see you back onboard. Please don't leave.

Nice! and personal

Notice: this is a world class sporting event not an event for children to make cheap personal attacks on other competitors. Grow up Coutts!

Not my read on the comment at this point - thought it was more reality with a touch of sarcasm based on JS's comment rather than a personal attack.

I'm pretty sure there is zero reality in that statement, and a boat load of venom. Read the other posts on his facebook:

"See this link from Jimmy Spithill; He’s right. Anyone trying to claim smaller boats with less crew, less designers, less sails, less components and less development time on the water will cost the same or more than the last AC campaign is obviously wishing to pay themselves more”

RC not showing much class to go with his bank account.

The AC is starting to lose me as a fan (FWIW). If I want to see/hear/read s#it like that I'd watch World Wrestling. Sailing used to be "something different", and RC used to be "someone different" as well. Man, I had respect for that chap, emphasis on had.

Anyway, back to unpacking moving boxes...

WTF...something different!? Are you for real!

Hardly becoming behaviour from ...

Dalton

Conner

Blackaller

Blake

Berterelli

Jobson

Davis

Dickson

Cayard

Fay

Cud more...

The event has been tainted by bad behavior, scandal, rhetoric, lies, and bullshit for the past 50+ year.

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

really? This is how it reads to me - but I have a bad habit of sarcasm:

Dalts,....there's no need to make any more excuses about how hard it is to win the AC (loser!). We all know you've been trying your best (which ain't good enough!) for the past 11years (fuckin forever!). Jimmy wants to see you back onboard (uhuh). Please don't leave (uhuh).

Seems to me that Coutts should be just a wee bit scared of Dalts. His team practically invented the flying 72 and came a hairs breadth from taking him out.

Or am I reading this missive wrong? It would seem that RC pretty much can't stand the guy.

What a stupid post! Coutts has forgotten more about sailing and yacht racing and team management than Dalton ( who has only ever won a whitbread in a maverick ketch 80 foot long against 60 footers) will ever know.

Coutts worries about only none sailor and team right now. Ben Ainslie Is the new and biggest threat. Ben is the best sailor in the world and knows all Oracles inner workings!

really? This is how it reads to me - but I have a bad habit of sarcasm:

Dalts,....there's no need to make any more excuses about how hard it is to win the AC (loser!). We all know you've been trying your best (which ain't good enough!) for the past 11years (fuckin forever!). Jimmy wants to see you back onboard (uhuh). Please don't leave (uhuh).

Seems to me that Coutts should be just a wee bit scared of Dalts. His team practically invented the flying 72 and came a hairs breadth from taking him out.

Or am I reading this missive wrong? It would seem that RC pretty much can't stand the guy.

What a stupid post! Coutts has forgotten more about sailing and yacht racing and team management than Dalton ( who has only ever won a whitbread in a maverick ketch 80 foot long against 60 footers) will ever know.

Coutts worries about only none sailor and team right now. Ben Ainslie Is the new and biggest threat. Ben is the best sailor in the world and knows all Oracles inner workings!

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

really? This is how it reads to me - but I have a bad habit of sarcasm:

Dalts,....there's no need to make any more excuses about how hard it is to win the AC (loser!). We all know you've been trying your best (which ain't good enough!) for the past 11years (fuckin forever!). Jimmy wants to see you back onboard (uhuh). Please don't leave (uhuh).

Seems to me that Coutts should be just a wee bit scared of Dalts. His team practically invented the flying 72 and came a hairs breadth from taking him out.

Or am I reading this missive wrong? It would seem that RC pretty much can't stand the guy.

What a stupid post! Coutts has forgotten more about sailing and yacht racing and team management than Dalton ( who has only ever won a whitbread in a maverick ketch 80 foot long against 60 footers) will ever know.

Coutts worries about only none sailor and team right now. Ben Ainslie Is the new and biggest threat. Ben is the best sailor in the world and knows all Oracles inner workings!

Dalton will be shitting his pants! ETNZ are seeded third right now

AR, BAR, and LR will all be tough, as will the French, if they can pull it off. They should all be worried about eachother. Honestly, I have no idea which of those would be any easier than the others. HIYC is one team that will have a lot to prove, but they could be right there with them, as well.

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

" I'm sure that Prince William would not want to be beaten by his wife."

I would let his wife beat me

As far as RC and his childish bullshit goes, fuck him and spithill both, they won on the water, why pull this shit out? Its not even clever gamesmanship, its just bollocks. I am swinging to the side of "just dont give a fuck anymore"

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Was interesting to hear him say that they proposed allowing the Challs to run two boats, under the same restrictions as OR, and would still propose and accept that change. The Challs (presumably at least HIYC among them) didn't want it.

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Cue the violin . ( of course this is a herbie gladwell piece so take it for what it's worth )

Financially beleaguered America's Cup challenger, Emirates Team New Zealand has less than 19 days to find sufficient finance to stay alive.

The team was given a modest advance by the NZ Government's Trade and Enterprise division after not winning the 34th America's Cup. However the $5million advance runs out at the end of June. It has been used to pay team costs, and retain key team members while the twice winner of the America's Cup is restructured.

In an interview broadcast on Wednesday morning on Radio Sport, in Auckland, Team NZ CEO Grant Dalton said the team had 19 days of financial resources left before the team would be forced to disband, after being in existence for almost 30 years.

Dalton said the end, if it came would be very quick and that he expected key team members to be snapped up by other teams within hours of an announcement.

YES the challengers were offered a second boat and they turned it down . As a matter of fact the offer is still on the table and they STILL don't want to avail themselves of it. Apparently a second boat for the challengers is only important to SA .

Oracles second boat has to be a carbon copy of the first and it is only a training aid. Oracle must race their first boat.

Each team is only allowed two wings . As Oracle will need to use their second wing for their second boat they are actually risking more because if they damage either one they are out of backups.

Oracle can not sail the second boat until the playoffs start.

With these and other points now in play what will the whiners have to chat about now ?

YES the challengers were offered a second boat and they turned it down . As a matter of fact the offer is still on the table and they STILL don't want to avail themselves of it. Apparently a second boat for the challengers is only important to SA .

Wrong. He said I think we'd even still be prepared to make that offer

Oracles second boat has to be a carbon copy of the first and it is only a training aid. Oracle must race their first boat.

This bit of self serving bullshit has been uttered by all and sundry, bit a quick read of the Protocol is enough to show it's a lie - will you apologize?

Each team is only allowed two wings . As Oracle will need to use their second wing for their second boat they are actually risking more because if they damage either one they are out of backups.

Oracle can not sail the second boat until the playoffs start.

With these and other points now in play what will the whiners have to chat about now ?

Do you have any actual knowledge of the subject - or do you just cheer for those you think score points for good old TUScheAt?

YES the challengers were offered a second boat and they turned it down . As a matter of fact the offer is still on the table and they STILL don't want to avail themselves of it. Apparently a second boat for the challengers is only important to SA .

Oracles second boat has to be a carbon copy of the first and it is only a training aid. Oracle must race their first boat.

Each team is only allowed two wings . As Oracle will need to use their second wing for their second boat they are actually risking more because if they damage either one they are out of backups.

Oracle can not sail the second boat until the playoffs start.

With these and other points now in play what will the whiners have to chat about now ?

YES the challengers were offered a second boat and they turned it down . As a matter of fact the offer is still on the table and they STILL don't want to avail themselves of it. Apparently a second boat for the challengers is only important to SA .

Oracles second boat has to be a carbon copy of the first and it is only a training aid. Oracle must race their first boat.

Each team is only allowed two wings . As Oracle will need to use their second wing for their second boat they are actually risking more because if they damage either one they are out of backups.

Oracle can not sail the second boat until the playoffs start.

With these and other points now in play what will the whiners have to chat about now ?

YES the challengers were offered a second boat and they turned it down . As a matter of fact the offer is still on the table and they STILL don't want to avail themselves of it. Apparently a second boat for the challengers is only important to SA .

Wrong. He said I think we'd even still be prepared to make that offer

>Oracles second boat has to be a carbon copy of the first and it is only a training aid. Oracle must race their first boat.

This bit of self serving bullshit has been uttered by all and sundry, bit a quick read of the Protocol is enough to show it's a lie - will you apologize?

Each team is only allowed two wings . As Oracle will need to use their second wing for their second boat they are actually risking more because if they damage either one they are out of backups.

Oracle can not sail the second boat until the playoffs start.

With these and other points now in play what will the whiners have to chat about now ?

Do you have any actual knowledge of the subject - or do you just cheer for those you think score points for good old TUScheAt?

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Totally wrong: Oracle may sail boat 2 one month before the Qs begin, but together with boat 1 only when Qs are over. That's 5 and 3 months before the Playoffs, respectively.

While that may be the case, the Challs could have elected to do the same yet chose not to.

Even GD is fine with it, he's been asked several times already.

It's just not the TWO AGAINST ONE issue that the some of first headlines out of NZ screamed about. And so now they are back tracking, even if the nav's of the world never will.

I even suggested back-when that it may not have been the Defender who pressed on the Challs running only one boat. Because really, wth should they care? That suggestion got flamed, by a bunch of hot-heads.

I happen to agree. GD does have to make a case to the public but he's been going about it the wrong way a lot of the time. He should be relishing in the AC instead whinging. Seems to me he's changing but his history until now is deep, that misguided attack against the Safety rules being basically unforgiveable and misguided on so many counts with devastating results to the event but to his own team too. It's like he runs on some combination of paranoia and deep anger; it's just not a good message. That is what JS is directly stepping up to taking him on for.

I happen to agree. GD does have to make a case to the public but he's been going about it the wrong way a lot of the time. He should be relishing in the AC instead whinging. Seems to me he's changing but his history until now is deep, that misguided attack against the Safety rules being basically unforgiveable and misguided on so many counts with devastating results to the event but to his own team too. It's like he runs on some combination of paranoia and deep anger; it's just not a good message. That is what JS is directly stepping up to taking him on for.

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

The irony is that grumpy is the one, and the only one who trash talked all the way thru AC34, from beginning up to race 1.

My take is the message from JS and RC's recent comments is "if this is the game you want to play, two can also play, and the gloves are now off. We're not putting up with your unprofessional attitude with AC35".

JS also made another good point - what a piss poor example to set for the youth involved in the event.

JS basically stuffed grumpy on all points, and hard.

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Agreed, they are taking GD head on, it's a sign he will no longer go unchallenged.

GD is pretty honest about telling it like it is from his perspective and it's always gold that way. But if there is no adult supervision to freshen his perspective then maybe the counters are called for, even potentially useful ideas to him. He needs to realize that not everything is about him, or about nailing him, or whatever his prevailing paranoia currently is.

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

I commented on the proto on Day 1 and have since just watched the flame war go on from the sidelines while absorbing people's views and also the media action....

and really, y'all motherfuckas (all sides) need to calm the fuck down, and stop being such stubborn middle-aged males! (pro tip: im also a man).

so:

The 1 v 2 boat thing seemed like a big deal at the time, but in reality it is not a big deal in isolation. it becomes a niggly problem when OR gain an advantage on sailing time by being able to also sail in the round robins with a boat ready to go back at base.

the boat issue was made an issue of by the media here in NZ because we seem to have media studies children reporting the news. seriously, the average age of a journalist is probably around 30ish, and none of them have a clue about reporting proper news. I work in government so deal with these idiots everyday, they are truly either retarded or sneaky lefty pricks.

anyway, back to the point!

as i said above, the boat issue isn't an issue until you factor in the defender sailing in the round robins. in the interests of the history of the AC and some sense of fairness for the challengers as a whole, my view on OR sailing in the RRs is as follows...

NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO...

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

The clock is ticking for Team New Zealand. Without an immediate cash injection the syndicate are, in the words of boss Grant Dalton, "gone by the end of the month".

Desperate times call for desperate measures, and so the syndicate today invited the media to their Halsey St base in a thinly veiled attempt to make one last plea to the New Zealand tax-payer to keep the doors of the syndicate open.

Worried the "hysteria" and "negative rhetoric" around the rules for the next America's Cup is hingeing efforts to secure further bridging finance from the government, Dalton has stated his case to the for the team's continued involvement in the event.

Although Dalton said the syndicate has never been in a better position from a sponsorship point of view, the money he has lined up won't kick in until February next year once the venues for 35th America's Cup and qualifying series is known.

So Team New Zealand are reliant on government funds getting them through to February. Dalton says he has private money lined up to help tide them over in the meantime as well, but those donors aren't willing to hand over a cheque until the government is on board.

While privately the government have been receptive to continuing to invest in Team NZ, they're nervous about the public backlash in election year. So it rests on Dalton's shoulders to try and convince the New Zealand tax-payer it will be money well spent.

With Oracle Team USA widely criticised for the tabling a Protocol stacked in their favour, that task of trying to convince New Zealanders entering the 35th America's Cup is a worthwhile endeavour has gotten all the more difficult.

The general reaction from Kiwi fans was 'tell Oracle to go and get stuffed'. That approach won't hurt Oracle, it will only hurt Team New Zealand, says Dalton. He claims the Protocol isn't as bad as some, including this newspaper, have been suggesting.

"It isn't that bad. These guys aren't doing us any favours, let's be realistic about that - it is the America's Cup. But it isn't that bad," he said.

Dalton points out the task facing them in the last campaign was an even steeper mountain to climb. In 2010 when the Protocol for the 34th America's Cup was released, the extent of Dean Barker's multihull experience was sailing a Hobie catamaran on his Christmas holidays; They had no firm commitment from sponsors; Team New Zealand didn't have a design team with multihull expertise, while Oracle had just won the America's Cup in a giant wing-sailed multihull.

"We don't see the odds being stacked anything like they were last time. We were starting from absolute scratch, we'd never even seen a wingsail, let alone designed one." said Dalton.